Fees Policy
Policies and Procedures
2. FEES
AIM
To aim to keep child care affordable for all families.
To adhere to guide-lines set down by funding bodies at all times.
To ensure that Edgeworth Child Care Centre is run within its yearly budget.
2.1 Payment of Fees
The centre fee policy must be given, and explained, to parents at the time of enrolment. Policy must include the following:
a) Fees to be paid on the first day of care for that week.
b) Details of how fee payments are to be made. Fees may be paid by cheque, Eftpos, Internet Transfer (with the details noted), and placed into the fees slot/admin foyer. The centre takes no responsibility for any cash payments or discrepancies if cash is paid - Cash is unable to be traced.
c) Fees to be paid for all days the child is enrolled, regardless of attendance.
d) i) It is the parents responsibility to apply for Family Childcare Benefit with the Department of Education, Employment and workplace Relations(DEEWR). This needs to be done prior to the child’s commencement date to avoid full fees being charged.
ii) When there is a delay in receiving your CCB percentage rate from Family Assistance Office full fees are payable. On receiving advice from DEEWR the fee will be adjusted and backdated according to the percentage rate and the effective date stated by DEEWR.
e) i) Joining Fee - There is a joining fee of $11.00 to be paid on enrolment. This fee is charged to enable your family to have voting rights at our monthly Parent Management Committee Meetings as well as covering administration costs. This fee is non-refundable.
ii) Association Fee - There is an annual fee of $5.50 per family for those families who re-enrol in the New Year. This will be charged to the family account every January and is not refundable if a family withdraws part way through a year.
2.2 Late Payment of Fees
It is essential that all fees are paid on time in order to ensure our centre is able to continue to operate. Procedures for overdue fees are as follows:
a) Once fees are not paid up to date, a reminder statement
will be issued if there is no response the Director (Authorised Supervisor) or Office Manager will approach the parents personally with the concern of payment. If the parents are unable to pay the full amount an agreement (Form 2B) will be made for payment until the account is up to date.
b) If the full amount is not paid before or on the date
greed upon, the child’s place in the centre will be forfeited immediately. If an account is two or more weeks in arrears the Director (Authorised Supervisor) is able to terminate the child’s place at the centre, this family will not be able to re-enrol.
c) After the above procedures have been followed the
account will then be directed to the Debt Collector. Any costs incurred by the centre for retrieval of outstanding debts will be added to the outstanding account.
d) In circumstances of genuine hardship, cases may be
assisted by DEEWR.
e) If the child is a referral from the Department of
Community Services, that Department is to be informed immediately fees are overdue.
2.3 Fee Box
To ensure the safety of all fees the centre has a locked fees box in the foyer which parents are to place any payments to the centre.
At no time are staff other than the Director (Authorised Supervisor) or Office Manager to accept money from parents.
2.4 Late Collection of Children Fee
If a child remains in the centre after closing time, the following apply:
a) A rate of $1 per minute per child is to be charged.
b) The amount is to be paid with the following weeks fees.
2.5 Payment of Fees on Days Centre is Closed
Fees are to be charged for all weekdays, with the exception of Public Holidays, Gazetted Public Holidays, centre industrial action days, pupil free days and centre closure times.
2.6 Levy System
A levy to cover the cost of purchasing equipment, maintenance, insurance and any other purchases seen as essential by Management may be charged from time to time.
Families will be receive advance notice in these circumstances.
2.7 Children’s Accident
Edgeworth child care centre holds current insurance for “Children’s Accidents” for each child enrolled at the centre.
“This insurance is for all children aged below 13 Years who are enrolled with a Child Care Facility.
The following benefits are provided in the event that an enrolled child is injured whilst travelling to and from school / care facility, or whilst engaged in normal school / care activities.
Out-of-pocket-expenses caused by an injury are covered to a maximum of $2,000.00 for any one incident.
This benefit is payable towards:
· Medical expenses * such as x-ray, hearing aid damage, chiropractic, dental.
· Clothing damage during an injury or in the process of medical treatment.
· Travel expenses to obtain treatment at nearest suitable facility.
· Accommodation, in cases where the nearest medical treatment is more than 4 hours away.
· Reimbursement of childcare fees that were paid in advanced for the periods that the child is unable to attend.
· Reimbursement of parents wages for a loss income as a result of time off work to care for the child.
There is no excess on this policy.
The policy does have a $50.00 franchise. This means that if the out-of-pocket expenses are under $50 they cannot be claimed.
However, if the expenses accrue to over $50 then they can be claimed in full.
Important Points
Cover excludes the payment of medical expenses in the following circumstances;
- Any expense that can be claimed from Medicare, or the gap between the doctor’s bill and the Medicare payment.
- Any expenses that is recoverable from another source.
- Any expenses that can be claimed through Compulsory Third Party Insurance.
- Ant pharmaceutical benefits list (N.H.L.)”
The above information in regards to Personal Accident For is directly quoted from:
Early Childhood News
Country Children’s Services Association of NSW
Issue 1 January / February 2004. page 8
Details of this insurance policy are subject to change by the designated insurance company without notice.
2.8 Fund Raising
If any fund raising activities occur to achieve a project goal, the activities are to be carefully selected and appropriate role models for children should be provided at all times.
2.9 Security Deposit
On commencement of enrolment, parents are to pay a bond equivalent to three (3) weeks fees. This bond is to be held in trust for the year and reimbursed to the family by way of contribution towards three (3) weeks care either at the end of the year or, when the child leaves the centre. The Director (Authorised Supervisor) or Office Manager is to estimate the fee payable, and an adjustment is to be made when childcare benefit is approved/amended.
2.10 Receipting of Fees
All fees are to be receipted within the week of payment, and receipts made available for parents by placing them in the children’s communication pockets.
Any bulk re-printing of receipts or annual rebate statement for tax or other requirements will incur an administration fee of $5.00 for each three month period requested and $5.00 being the minimum fee.
Version 1 1996
Version 11 2008
